Later, around 8 PM, while Isurugi and Licht were training—trying to find every possible flaw in the Hell's Wheel—Isurugi said, "Even at Stage 12, I still can't catch up to you."
Licht said, "You're depending on the weapon to close the gap, and that's a pretty bad move. Depend on yourself. Think of it as an extension of yourself."
After their training session, Alysa said, "Need any warm towels?"
Licht said, "Sure."
As they sat down, Licht's communicator began to ring.
Licht said, "Go for Licht."
Liebe said, "Yeah, it's Liebe. Long story short, don't eat dinner 'cause we have extra food and all. Also, bring Iris, Olivia, Hedin, and Lumos."
Licht said, "Sure. We'll be back in about 40 minutes."
Liebe said, "By the way, we're getting BBQ."
Licht said, "Okay, I'll inform them."
Liebe said, "Thanks," and cut the call.
After cutting the call, Licht called M and said, "M, can you come over to our dorm and bring everyone—like Gaia, Hedin, Lumos, etc., etc.?"
M said, "Why?"
Licht said, "Liebe and the Captain are doing a BBQ, and they told me to get them. Just do it."
M said, "Wait, the Captain is doing a BBQ, and I'm invited?"
Licht said, "That's what I just said."
M said, "I'll be there in a second."
And M dragged Hedin and Lumos out while stating, "Fate, Gaia, we have somewhere to be."
Fate said, "Okay."
Gaia said, "Yeahhhh."
Licht said, "Alysa, do I look good?"
Alysa said, "Guess so. Why?"
Licht said, "I'm going to Iris and Olivia's dorm room. Gotta look my best."
Alysa said, "Wait, wear a smile."
Licht said, "Huh?"
Alysa said, "Yeah, that's all."
Licht said, "Thanks," as he rushed to Iris's dorm.
Meanwhile, on Valhala Island, Lilith said, "Gelda, are you sure three Ignisaurous Rexes will be enough?"
Gelda said, "Yes. We are feeding like 15 people, not the capital for a week."
Lilith said, "You sure? I could finish this during one of my pregnancy cravings when I was having Liebe."
Gelda said, "Somehow, I don't doubt it. But listen—everyone else is an ordinary person. They don't eat like you."
As Liebe whistled, Fang flew over. Liebe said, "Who's a good boy? Yes, yes, you are! Yes, you are," as he scratched Fang under the chin. "Can you be a good boy and help us carry these back to the dorm?"
Fang growled in agreement.
Liebe said, "Good."
Gelda said, "Now I'm curious—how did you eat these things every day without someone catching you for a crime?"
Lilith said, "Easy. No one has a reason to come here. Think about it: why would a knight or team come here? It's just death. And even if they survive, there isn't any glory since no one told. People already have their hands full with stuff. And I can eat all I want. But there was one who came to check."
Gelda said, "Who was that?"
Lilith said, "Father—Domr."
Liebe said, "Wait, Grandpa came to check? What happened next? Tell me, tell me!"
Lilith said, "Easy—we had a feast. We ate like five or so together. We lost count after four. If Father stayed a few more days, it would have been so much more fun."
Gelda said, "At this point, I feel bad for the Ignisaurous. They literally tried evolution just to escape you, you psycho. At this point, the only choice they have left is to start a strike on Galahad for anti-humanitarian activities."
Lilith said, "Do you have a screw loose or something? This is Valhala Island—the most dangerous place in Eldoria. And if the apex predator here literally went on strike with a signboard, it would be hilarious."
Gelda said, "Knowing you, I actually feel bad for those things, considering they literally evolved to turn their flesh poisonous, and when that didn't work, they literally went to sacrifice themselves."
Lilith said, "I know. How boring. Going for the kill was far more fun."
Liebe said, "Show me, show me, show me!"
Lilith said, "I'm sure there's nothing wrong with getting a few more."
Gelda said, "Kill another one, and I'll BBQ you alive."
Lilith said, "Understood, ma'am."
Gelda said, "Good. Now let's head back."
Liebe said, "Sure."
As Hedin and the others were getting ready, Hedin said, "Well, Lumos, Liebe sure is awesome."
Lumos said, "Yeah, he is."
Hedin said, "I wish I could be like him—someone as strong as steel while being soft as gold and rare as such."
Lumos said, "I get you."
Suddenly, it started to happen. Hedin was on his knees as he said, "My head… it feels like it's burning!"
Lumos said, "Hedin, dude, talk to me. Wait, I have some painkillers."
As Hedin stood up, he said, "I feel nothing. The pain is no more."
As Hedin had grown wings and his face was different, Lumos stared.
Hedin said, "What? Is there something on my face?"
Lumos said, "More like it is your face."
As he looked in a mirror, he said, "Oh god, what the hell is this? Frick!"
Lumos said, "Calm down, calm down. It's not so bad."
As M came down and said, "What happened?" she saw Hedin and was like, "What the fuc…?"
Gaia said, "Umm, you look cute."
Hedin said, "Uhhh, thanks. Now the real problem—how can I find a bride or get married looking like this? Alice or Olivia will never marry me."
Lumos said, "Don't worry, in a few years, it will all be over."
Hedin said, "Are you saying this thing will vanish?"
Lumos said, "I don't know, but by then, you will have learned how to accept you will die a virgin."
Hedin said, "Frick."
As liquid mercury began to drip from his body, Lumos said, "Hedin, calm down."
Hedin said, "How? My life just got ruined."
Lumos said, "I get it, but you're leaking mercury. You might end up destroying the building."
M said, "I'll handle him."
Lumos said, "Stop."
Fate stated, "Based on the circumstances, let me try."
Hedin said, "Sure."
As Fate placed her hands on Hedin's cheeks and moved them, she realized something. Fate said, "Problem solved."
Hedin said, "What? How? I still look the same."
Fate said, "Just a second."
As she removed a mask from Hedin's face, Hedin turned normal.
Fate said, "Now, try looking at the mirror."
As Hedin saw the mirror, he said, "I'm back! I'm back! I'm back! So glad I'm back. I never thought I would miss my ugly face so much. Sorry, face, for calling you ugly. I missed you."
Lumos said, "At this point, even I was missing your ugly face."
Hedin said, "Don't talk to me, dumbass. You were planning to remove my face."
Lumos said, "Of course not. I was actually planning to remove the head."
Hedin said, "Some bro you are."
M said, "Now that the problem is solved, get ready. We are about to leave."
Meanwhile, as Licht got flowers for Iris and reached her dorms, he took a deep breath and said, "Here we are, Licht. Time to be a man—even if it means someone gets your manhood."
As he woke from his daydream, he was like, "What am I thinking? Nothing will happen, dumbass."
As he went in, he gave the receptionist his ID and stated his reason for coming to visit Iris. Not many questions were asked, as he was a knight and his status as a noble.
As he goes to Iris and Olivia's room, he knocked on the door. As Olivia opened the door, Olivia said, "Why are you here?"
Licht said, "Liebe sent me."
Olivia said, "Why, exactly?"
As Iris screamed, Licht said, "What happened?"
Olivia said, "I don't know what your game is, but if anything happens to Iris, I won't forgive you."
Licht said, "We have to see."
Olivia said, "You stand here."
Licht said, "Fine."
As a second scream is heard—"I'm hairy!"—Licht said, "What the—?"
As Olivia checked, it was Iris, yet she looked like an owl. And when Olivia opened the door, Iris turned her head backwards and said, "Olivia?"
Olivia said, "Umm, you sure look different."
Outside, Licht wonders, What did she mean by "hairy"?
Olivia said, "What happened?"
Iris said, "I don't know. Suddenly, there was a pain, and then I was this owl thing."
Olivia said, "Calm down, calm down."
Iris said, "Wait, who was at the door?"
Olivia said, "It was Licht."
Iris screamed.
Licht, outside, hears his name and said, "What?" as he rushed in.
Olivia said, "Don't worry."
Licht said, "What's wrong? Are you going to assassinate Iris?"
Olivia said, "No, she is facing a different problem."
Licht said, "Iris, are you okay?"
Iris said, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," as she closes the door and Olivia leaves.
Licht said, "What is going on?" as he blushes a bit.
Olivia said, "Well, you know, that time of the month again."
Licht said, "But why scream 'hairy'?"
Olivia said, "You don't get it. She's removing hair and all, and I was helping her."
Licht said, "Oh, that makes sense."
Olivia said, "So, what do you want to say, anyways?"
Licht said, "Well, Liebe and the Captain are coming back, and they got food—a bit much—so he asked if you two wanted to join for dinner."
Olivia said, "Is that all?"
Licht said, "Yeah."
As Iris screamed, "Oh god!"
Licht said, "What happened now?"
Olivia said, "Don't worry, I'll check."
As she checked inside, she couldn't enter the bathroom. It was like magic was stopping her.
Iris said, "What do I do? We have a guest, and I can't leave."
Olivia said, "Maybe ask him for help. He's a knight and more experienced. Maybe he can help."
Iris said, "Hell no."
Olivia said, "Fine."
As Olivia came back, she said, "Well, you know, Iris can't do anything without me."
Licht said, "But why screaming?"
Olivia said, "You know, playing. She was playing inside."
Licht said, "Playing?"
Olivia said, "What do you think a young woman could possibly be playing with? What kind of toys?"
Licht started to blush.
Olivia said, "You naughty, naughty knight."
Licht said, "It isn't like that."
As Iris said, "Olivia!"
Olivia said, "Well, you know, her needs my help for everything—even playing with all her toys."
As Olivia left, Licht was bright red, thinking, What? What kind of toys? It can't be. And why the hell am I getting flustered? Maybe this is a bad time. I should just leave.
As he got up, he could see a small angel on his right shoulder looking like Gelda, saying, "Do the just thing and leave," while two devils looking like Alysa and Liebe yelled, "Don't leave! Licht, see it, Licht! Wait for it—she wants you. She even called your name. She wants you!"
As Licht couldn't decide, he sat down and was screaming inside, What the hell do I do? Do I follow my best friend and his girlfriend's advice and wait, or do I follow the only logical person I know and leave like Gelda would suggest?
In a second, he decided. As he decided to, the Alysa and Liebe devils were saying, "Don't leave! If you leave now, you will regret it for the rest of your life!"
As Licht said to them, "Even if I do, I'm saving myself for marriage."
As they said, "Licht," all three said, "Such purity."
Olivia said, "Umm, Licht, can we talk?"
Licht said, "Umm, sure."
Olivia said, "We actually need some help."
Licht, thinking, Help? What could it be? Oh god, oh god, oh god. Gelda, help me.
Licht said, "I think I should leave."
Olivia said, "Please."
Licht said, "Okay, then."
Olivia said, "It is actually about Iris."
Licht said, "I see. What's the matter?"
Olivia said, "To put it simply, she really is hairy."
Licht said, "Sorry, what?" as he starts to blush again.
Licht said, "Let me see."
Olivia said, "One second."
As Iris comes over, covered in a hood, Iris said, "Can you please help me?"
Licht said, "I will. What's the matter?"
Iris said, "I understand if you find me disgusting."
As her tears cover her lap, she removes her hood to show her owl-like face. Iris said, "I look hideous, Licht."
As he begins to tear up, Iris said, "Please don't look at me."
Licht said, "It's not that. You look beautiful."
Iris said, "What?"
Licht said, "Sorry for staring. Want a mouse?"
Iris just began to laugh and said, "What?"
Licht said, "Sorry, I just thought since you looked like an owl and all, you know."
Olivia said, "I don't know what to say."
Licht said, "Can I examine the problem?"
Iris said, "Sure."
As Licht stands up, he crashes into a wall as if Iris created an invisible force field.
Licht said, "Interesting. This is not mirror magic. Any idea how this happened?"
Iris said, "I don't know. One moment I was in the bathroom, and there was a pain, and then this."
Licht said, "Okay. This wall is strong. From the characteristics, it's definitely spatial magic. Can I punch it?"
Iris said, "Okay."
As Licht punched it, Licht said, "I see cracks."
Yet the cracks were healed instantly.
Licht said, "No point in shattering it."
Iris said, "Am I stuck like this for life? Looking like an owl in a wall?"
Licht said, "No. I think I have examined the problem."
Iris said, "Well?"
Licht said, "Easy—try concentrating."
As Iris tried, the barrier wasn't moving.
Licht said, "Well, time for Plan B."
Iris said, "What's that?"
Licht said, "Force."
As he smashed the barrier, Iris said, "How?"
As Licht placed his hand on her cheeks, he said, "Don't move."
As she removed the mask, Iris turned back.
Iris said, "How?"
Licht said, "Congrats. You have been chosen by the Mask of Ifrit, demonic model: Stolas. I guess I should get going."
Iris said, "Wait, why did you want to say?"
Licht said, "Nothing important. But Liebe and the Captain are bringing leftover dinner and planning to make BBQ. So, want to join?"
Iris said, "Of course! Wait a few minutes—let me get ready."
Licht said, "Great. I'm waiting in the lobby, I guess."